Surfaces for the elimination of Clostridiodes Difficile Spores Aston University

Overview

Production of antimicrobial resistant spores by C. difficile and their dispersal in the environment  facilitates the transmission of Clostridiodes difficile associated disease, especially in healthcare environments. 

The spores are resistant to common disinfectants and biocides, thus allowing them to withstand hospital cleaning regimes. If instead, a spore can be induced to germinate, it will be  more sensitive to common antimicrobials and it may be readily eliminated by common disinfectants and biocides. Certain bile acids and co-germinants are known to initiate spore germination. It is hypothesised that a suitable surface-anchored bile acid derivative might be able to initiate germination in C. difficile spores. If this could be combined with an antimicrobial component, then there would be the possibility for a spore germination-extermination dual-action material that could potentially be deployed as antimicrobial surfaces in the clinical environment. 

Therefore, the aim of this Surfaces for the elimination of Clostridiodes Difficile Spores course at  Aston University  is to produce surfaces with attached bioactive entities that are able to initiate germination of C. difficile spores, and which also have general wide-spectrum antimicrobial properties.

Career prospects

Studying a PhD is great route into academia and industries that are centred on research and innovation. Areas with a demand for very high level and specialised research skills often demand PhDs.

In addition to this specialist knowledge, PhD education will help you to develop a set of valuable transferrable skills. The very nature of studying an intensive research degree will enable you to become a team player, develop problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, and advanced presentation and communication skills.

The variety of PhD project topics at Aston means that the destinations of our graduates vary substantially. Some choose to continue into academia, at either Aston or other leading institutions, while others go onto use their newly acquired skills in a range of research, healthcare, industry or charitable fields. When selecting your chosen PhD path at Aston, your supervisor will be able to provide you with relevant career opportunities that could be available to you in your specialist area.